Area of Research

• Pathogens and their hosts co-evolve, leading to variation in both host and pathogen genomes and to the emergence of differences in parasite virulence and host resistance. The focus of the Saeij laboratory is to identify parasite genes that modulate the host cell and/or determine virulence, host genes and pathways that determine resistance/susceptibility, and to characterize their specific interactions. We focus on parasites that belong to the phylum Apicomplexa such as Toxoplasma,Neospora, and Sarcocystis. To achieve our goals we use a combination of genetics, genomics, biochemistry, microscopy, immunology and computational tools.